SolveYourProblem Article Series: Gardening
Everyday Gardening Tips & Advice

When Do I Plant Bulbs?
     

You want to add some bulbs to your garden and planting them are important. You definitely do not want to plant tall bulbs in the front and the low ones in the back, therefore before you start decide where in your garden the bulbs are going to go. It is also important that you purchase the bulbs that grow best for your zone. If you are planting bulbs in the fall then zone 3 to 6 is best planted during the months of September and October. If you want to plant in November, you can just be sure you do this before the first frost penetrates the soil. If you are in zone 7 to 10, you should plant in October through December. If you are planting bulbs in the spring, you can do so as soon as the threat of frost has passed.

If you are wondering how large your flowers will be, you can usually tell by the size of the bulbs. If the bulbs are large, then you will probably have tall flowers and if the bulbs are small, then you will probably have flowers that are short and small. Bulbs do not always need to be planted in the ground you can also plant them in an outdoor container. When you do this, keep them in a cool and dark place during the winter months. If you live in an area where the winters are mild, you can keep the bulbs outside in their containers. Bulbs are not fussy as to the type of soil you grow them in as long as there is good drainage. If you want to add fertilizer, you can do so approximately three times per year; when you plant them, when they begin to develop shoots above the ground, and directly after they have bloomed.

If you are going to plant them in a bed, determine the size of the bed. For a large bed, you want to dig about 10 inches in depth or you can dig individually with a bulb auger. Fill in the first few inches with sand and peat moss –this will provide good drainage. Then mix in some fertilizer and finally the bulbs. Once this done cover with the original soil and water the bulbs well. If you like, you can plant a minimum of five of the larger bulbs together and up to ten of the smaller bulbs together. When you plant multiple bulbs together keep in mind the spacing they will need as they grow. You do not want to overcrowd them. Again, once they are planted it is very important that you water them immediately, this is one of the most important things you can do to ensure that you will have good blooms. Bulbs do not take long in forming roots and they do so directly after planting therefore they need the water to help them along.

Do you want to plant summer bulbs? You can do this by planting them in pots. Place the bulbs in small pots and cover them with tin foil (this is a trick to block any light and make it think it is dormant). Then place them in the refrigerator for approximately six weeks. When you take out them out of the refrigerator, water them, and place them in a sunny window and you will soon see tulips beautifying your home. The majority of bulbs whether they are spring or summer flowering can be grown inside.

Do you need to replant the bulbs every year? Some bulbs become quite at home in your garden and will bloom more than once per year. Other bulbs may last for several years. Take basic steps to caring for them such as, cutting the flowers after they bloom, leave the foliage to die down naturally and give them fertilizer three times per year and you will be amazed at the beautiful bulbs enhancing your garden. Before you plant the bulbs, you can consult a planting guide that will tell you which ones naturalize. Tulips are not one of the bulbs that naturalize, you will probably find yourself digging it up, and replanting yearly – but their beauty is worth it.

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